Interior telephone equipment



Nov. 30, 1937. R, VARLEY INTERIOR TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT Filed Aug. 31, 1935 X m A m P v N W 1 ANM 0 e M .7 P bk QR Mk %R g; I & EL NE Q% N% E w R Q QQ NQl ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT 2,100,887 m'rnmon TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT Richard Varley, St. George, Staten Island, N. Y., assignor to Inter-Outer Telephone Corpora tion, Dover, Del., a corporation of Delaware v I plication August 31, 1935, Serial mjestsi My invention relates to interiorv telephone.

to a privateelectrically independent interior tele phone equipment, without interferingjwith or modifying the property or operation of the public telephone system.

At the present time, so-called hard of hearing telephone sets have been developed particularly for the individual use of persons who are subject to deafness, and these telephone sets, which embody readily controllable electronic amplifier units for increasing the intensity or volume of speech, as desired, may be leased from the public telephone companies.

Moreover, by arrangement with the public telephone companies, special temporary installations embodying a plurality of ordinary individual telephone sets may be leased for unusual occasions, as when in the conduct of business it maybe found desirable and expedient for a group of men, in conference for instance, to be enabledto have or parties located at a distant point.

One of the objects of my present invention is, I

extraordinary service, as mentioned'above,,hy. providing auxiliary equipment which maybe readi y placed in operative acoustical relation to the telephone instrument of a public,telephone system, and which serves to extend the facilities thereof to either an individual subject to deafness or to a group of business men for instance, all of which group may not only hear the incoming conversation, but may take part in the conversation, as though the outside distant party were actually present with the group, and with! out the necessity or inconvenience of the usual individual telephone instruments.

telephone system, may be privately owned and operated without continual rentals.

A further object of my invention is to attain the desired service and results mentioned through the use of a coupling device which is adapted,

when a French type telephone instrument of, a

multi-party telephone communication over apublic telephone system with an outside party -Another object of my invention is to provide (01.179-81) t public telephone system is placed in acoustical relation therewith, to electrically amplify. orjintensify, the incoming messages from'the receiver thereof and audibly deliver such messages to the user through either a telephone receiverjior a loud-speaker, and which is further adapted through the agency of one or more speaking tubes in conjunction with a sound-directing horn or megaphone acoustically related to ,the transmitter of the public telephone instrument; to permit one or more parties to talk with an 'outside distant partyin the manner indicated,

These and other objectsof my invention *and I in illustrated comprises a subscriber's telephone set T, of -a.public,tele'phone system having a removable, Frenc ypetelephone instrument F; an auxiliary coupling device C including an electronicampliiierj onegor' more flexible speaking tubes ST; a common sound chamber SC therefor and a homer megaphone M; together with aloud-speaker 'aridfa "sub-base SB for the public telephone set-T which embodies therein a suitable. control switch CS, for automatically connecting theelectron'ic amplifier A to a source V "of-power whenever thegF-rench; lephone instrument F isremoved from ltscradlef L'I'hdpublic telephone set T is of the common type andmay, or may not, include a dial mechanism, and'embodies -afbase 2'and a cradle 4. upon which the French typetele'pho'ne instrument F normally rests when not in use. This instrumentF, in accordance with usual practice, embodies a transmitter 6 and a receiver 8 which aredisposed in fixed relation'at the opposite ends of a hand grip Ill. 1

The telephone set "I' is electricallyindependent of the rest of thefequipment, but, in order to carry out a desirable function of my invention, it normally rests upon a floating platform l2 constituting a part of the subbase SB. This platform I2 is adapted for vertical movement within the sub-base and is supported by a plurality of springs ll. The control switch CS associated therewith includes a plurality of spring contacts l6 and [8 which are suitably mounted by means of insulating blocks 20 and 22 upor a portion of the stationary sub-base and tical relation that electrical engagement thereof may be efiected when the floating platform is raised by the springs l4 whenever the total weight of the telephone set T is decreased by the removal of the French telephone instrument from its cradle 4. However, when this telephone instrument rests in its cradle, the combined weight is sufficient to lower the floating platform l2 and separate the cooperating spring contacts "5 and I8. These relative movements of the spring contacts are utilized for the purpose of controlling the operation of the electronic amplifier A associated with my coupling device C, as will later become apparent.

The coupling device C embodies 'a cabinet 28 having an inclined front panel 28 which is provided with an upper openingfifl anda lower opening 32 disposed in substantial vertical alignment and spaced apart a distance corresponding to the fixed spacing of the receiver 8 and transmitter 6 of the French type telephone instrument F. Said telephone instrument F, when placed upon the front panel 28, is suspended by a supporting flange 34, which is preferably semicircular in form, with the receiver 8 and transmitter 6 in registry with the upper and lower panel openings 38 and 32, respectively.

Within the cabinet 26 and positioned immediately in back of the upper opening 30 is a microphone 36, preferably of the two-buttoned type, which is connected in the usual manner by input conductors 38 with the electronic amplifier A.

This electronic amplifier A is of conventional construction, including vacuum tubes of the am plifying andrectifying type, choke coils, transformers, condensers and other elements commonly employed in the construction of such devices. A suitable amplifier is typified by the RCA Victor portable sound amplifierType P. G.6 3, or the Universal amplifier assembly (6 watts) may be employed.

While the particular amplifiers mentioned are adapted to be connected to an alternating current source of power, my invention may be carried out with any other type of amplifier, such, for example, as those which are connected to a direct current source ofpower or-those which are operated by batteries. All such amplifiers, regardless of their type, are provided with means for regulating or adjusting the degree of amplification. This is a desirable adjunct to my invention but, since it is common to all types of amplifiers, it is typified in the drawing only by a simple adjusting knob 48. The amplifier is also provided with the usual power 'terminals 42 and output terminals 44.

Also mounted within the cabinet 28 is thesound chamber SC and the sound-directing horn or megaphone M, both of which may be of any suitable form or construction. The smaller end of themegaphone is in open communication with the sound chamber SC and its larger end disposed immediately behind and in close proximity to the lower panel opening 32. The sound chamber SC isalso provided with a plurality of speaking tubes ST which are preferably flexible in form and which freely communicate at one end with the sound chamber and are provided at their free ends with suitable mouth pieces 46.

The mouth piece 46 of one-of the speaking tubes ST constitutes a part of a hand grip instrument F, which carries the mouthpiece refe'rred to at one end and which is provided with Y the floating platform l2, respectively. The spring contacts l6 and i8 are placed in such veran ordinary telephone receiver 58 at the other end. At the receiver end of. the instrument F is a supporting member 52 having a suitable opening therein by means of which it may be hung or suspended upon a supporting hook 54 conveniently positioned on cabinet 26. The other speaking tubes ST, which may be of any desired number, usually only include the mouthpieces 48 but may, if desired, have associated therewith hand-grip instruments similar to that shown and described, as denoted by the reference character F. By reason of the flexible nature of the speaking tubes and the fact that they may be of any desired length, they are adapted for convenient distribution within the room, for instance, at different locations around a conference table.

The loud-speaker LS is also of conventional construction and may be locatedas desired within the room or, of course, may be contained within the cabinet 26 if so preferred. In either event, it is adapted to be connected by suitable conductors to the output terminals 44 of the electronic amplifier A. For purposes of enabling the adjustment of the connections of the loudspeaker 15 and the telephone receiver 58 of the hand grip instrument F, in accordance with whatever character of service is being utilized, a change-over switch 53 associated either within or without the cabinet 26, is provided whereby the user may arrange at will for the operation of either the loud-speaker 15 or the telephone receiver 50.

Having described some of the structural features of certain parts of the equipment, the operation and circuit connections thereof will be set ing upon its cradle 4 and a call is received thereon,

the instrument is removed from the cradle and may be utilized in the regular conventional manner for telephonic conversation. I

However, if the telephone is being used by a person subject to deafness it is only necessary for him to place the French type telephone instrument F upon the inclined panel 28 of the acoustical coupling device C in the manner previously indicated, whereby an acoustical coupling is effected between the interior telephone equipment and the public telephone system which enables a conversation to be conducted through the agency of the. auxiliary hand-grip instrument F.

As a preliminary to such a conversation and in preparation therefor, the removal of the French type instrument F from its cradle decreases the weight of the telephone set T and permits the springs l4 w ithin .the. sub-base SB to raise the floating platform l2 and establish an electrical" engagement between the spring contacts l6 and I8 of the control switch CS. Accordingly, a circuit is established from one side of a source of power marked AC through conductor 56, spring contacts l8 and I6 and conductor 58 to one power terminal 42 of the electronic amplifier A, the circuit being completed from the other terminal thereof through conductor 60 andconductor 62 to the other side of the source of energy. In this way the electronic amplifier A is immediately connected to the source of power whenever the French type telephone instrument F is removed from its cradle, and therefore the energization and usual warming up period of the amplifier tubes is promptly initiated so that the amplifier fiii is'ihtended merely for the use of a pers'onsubject 1 to deafness, it its-unnecessary to equip it with more 65 my invention,

. over t will be quickly heated to a suitable condition for use. y

In order to advise the user that the French telephone instrument F is out of its cradle, an audible 5 or visible signal device 64 is provided and thrown sideof the source of energy, the other side thereof being connected in the manner and by the means previously set forth.

1 Having effected the acoustical coupling between theFrench telephone instrument F and the couplinggdevice' C in the manner set forth, it willbe understoodi that the incoming call or message emanatingfromthe receiverii of the subscribers' instrumen F is acousticallypicked up by the delivered ,to-the amplifier A,

microphones and froin whichit is r1ayea intensifiedor ampli-.

- fied olun eacontrollable; at the will of the operator; by theadjustingkncb liigt'o' the rceiyer ifl of the hand-.gfrip iinstrument f F- This 'isjjefiected througha "fifcuit from one output terminal 44 of.

the amplifier through conductor 68, switch arm Ill and contact l'l of the 'control switch-,53, conductor 14, receiver-150.01? the instrum'ent F and 5. 1

electrical means electrically independent of said conductor 16 to the other output terminal offthje amplifier. The conductors I4 and-16 maybe conveniently disposed within the speaking tube ST associated withthe hand-grip instrument F' By this means the user may utilize the instrument1-F' toreceive,at controllable amplified volume, the messages or call delivered. acoustically I by the receiver Bfof subscriber's telephone instrument'to the interiortelephone equipment.

' On the other hand, the user may talk with the outside party by merely speaking into the mouthpiece 45 associated with the hand-grip instrument F',the sound or speech being carried through the speakingtube ST, sound chamber SC and sounddirecting megaphone horn'M in a well understood manner, from which it is transmitted acoustically tothe transmittert f the public French telephone instrument F,"

" soon as'the Conversation has terminated, the

its supporting hook and the French type teleupon the increased weight ofthe telephone set T depresses the fi'oating platform i2 and interrupts the electrical'circuit supptyinglenergy to the'sig nal device I64 and tlielelectronic amplifier A. Should the user neglect. to restore the telephoneinst t I action has been taken. Of c oursi a;--if this interior. telephone'equipment 1 than the single speaking tubealready' referred to as connected to the handgrip instrument F.

Turning now tothe-othertype of service of namely, for purposes of multiconversation over thepublic telephone sys- I teni 'betweena group of'individuals, around a table }for instance, with an outside e distant point, ayplurality of speakis utilized, as beforesuggested. For c the incoming messages are received l,oiid'speaker LS by means of which the messagesare delivered into the room and may be heard by all occupants thereof. In order to renf 5 de).' the loudspeaker L8 operable, it is only neces This is accomplished by connecting auxiliary hand-grip instrument F' is hung up on- 'entF, the. signal device 84.continues'to operate'iuntil such In this way, one output terminal 44 of the electronic amplifier A is connected to the loud-speakerby means of conductor 68, switch arm I0 and contact member 18 of the control switch and conductor 80, while the other output terminal 44 of the amplifier is connected to the loud-speaker by means of conductor 82.

ithout further description it will be underoperate the control switch 53 to cause.

stoo that, by providing the various individuals l of the as; erence group with separate speaking tubes ST, ibispossible for'any and all of the members of thb\ cup to enter the conversation and talk with tlistant party just as though he were personally iesent and conversing with them. 4

Although I have describedmy invention as embodying more or less specific details of construction, arrangement and location of parts and cir cult connections and operation, it will be understood that many modifications may 'be made from the spirit and therein without departing scope of my invention. and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of a subscriber's public telephone set having a transmitter and a receiver,

telephone set and auxiliary receiver, ly operating the one or the other and circuit connections therefor for acoustically picking up sound waves from thereceiver of said telephone set and delivering them at intensified volume to including a loud-speaker, an

-- receiver being disposed within said speakingtube.

- 1 2. A unitary telephonic device adapted to be acoustically coupled to the transmitter and receiver of a public telephone set, but electrically independent thereof, comprising in combination, a cabinet having in one of its walls a pair of openings' with which the receiver and transmitter of said public telephone set may be placed in registry, a microphone mounted immediately behind and'jin registry with one of said wall openings,

an electronic amplifier and sound producing switching means for selective-- 1 either said loudspeaker or said auxiliary telephone I means electrically connected to said microphone, I

one or more speaking tubes and a sound-directingmegaphone operatively associated therewith and having its larger end .disposed immediately behind and in registry openings.

3.- A unitary acoustically coupled to a French type telephone instrument of a public telephone systembut elecwith the other of said-wall telephonic device adapted to be trically independent thereof, comprising in combination, a cabinet having openings in one of its walls so spaced as to correspond to the spacing of the transmitter type telephone instrument, a microphone-disposed immediately behind and in said wall openings, an electronic amplifier electrically connected thereto, electrical sound-producing meansoperably connected to said ampliamPreceiver of said French registry with one of trical means electrically independent of said telephone set for acoustically picking up sound waves from the receiver of said telephone set and delivering them at intensified volume to either said loud speaker or said auxiliary telephone receiver, and mechanical means including a flexible speaking -tube having a mouthpiece at its free en and sound directing means at the other'end dis sed adjacent the transmitter of said telephone s t for acoustically delivering to said transmitt r of said telephone set sound-waves produced by s eech into said mouthpiece.

5. A unitary telephonic device adapted to be acoustically coupled to a French type telephone instrument of a public telephone system but electrically independent thereof, comprising in combination, a cabinet having openings in one of its walls so spaced as to correspond to the spacing of the transmitter and receiver of said French type telephone instrument, a microphone disposed adjacent one of said openings, a speaking tube havwith a pair of openings in substantial vertical alignment and so spaced as to register with the transmitter and receiver of said French telephone instrument, means for supporting the French telephone instrument from its upper end so that its transmitter and receiver overlie said panel openings in substantially vertical operative Y positions, amicrophone disposed in proximity to one of said openings in acoustical relation to the receiver of said telephone instrument, an electronic amplifier connected to said microphone, a sound producing device connected to said amplifier; a flexible speaking tube having a mouthpiece to receive speech and a sound directing megaphone having its smaller end ated with said speaking tube and positioned within said cabinet with its larger end in proximity to said other panel opening and in acoustical relation with the transmitter of said French telephone instrument.

- RICHARD VARLEY.

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